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Fisch. is a medicinal plant commonly cultivated in salinized soils, where environmental stress suppresses the accumulation of pharmaceutically active components. To date, only limited studies have examined whether , a root endophytic fungus with growth-promoting and stress-alleviating properties, can improve the salt tolerance and medicinal quality of , particularly at the physiological and transcriptional levels. In this study, we successfully established a symbiotic system between and . To evaluate responses to salt stress, -inoculated and non-inoculated plants were subjected to NaCl treatments at 0, 100, 200, 300, and 350 mM, with 18 biological replicates per treatment. Colonization by was confirmed through microscopic examination and molecular identification. Growth phenotypes, antioxidant enzyme activities, membrane lipid peroxidation levels, chlorophyll-related indices, and the accumulation of key medicinal components were systema4tically quantified in symbiotic across different growth stages. Inoculation with significantly increased plant height, root length, and dry weight by 27.8%, 25.5%, and 52.2%, respectively. The symbiotic association enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) by 48.4% and 27.5%, respectively. Although malondialdehyde (MDA) content initially increased by 16.5% due to early fungal colonization, the canopy SPAD value simultaneously increased by 20.3%. These findings suggest that colonization is associated with differential oxidative stress responses between roots and shoots. Furthermore, under the high salt concentration of 300 mM NaCl, the contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were markedly increased by 124.7% and 62.5%, respectively. enhanced the accumulation of secondary metabolites by modulating key rate-limiting enzyme genes rather than indiscriminately activating entire metabolic pathways. For example, the symbiont significantly upregulated in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis and in flavonoid biosynthesis. These transcriptional changes may contribute to alleviating salt-induced constraints on secondary metabolite accumulation. In conclusion, colonization significantly improved growth performance, stress resistance, and medicinal compound accumulation in under salt stress. This study provides a theoretical foundation for improving the cultivation quality of in saline soils.

As a minimally invasive method of physical stimulation, manual acupuncture (MA) is used globally as a sort of therapy for neuromusculoskeletal disorders. In addition to selecting appropriate acupoints, acupuncturists should also determine the stimulation parameters of needling, such as the manipulation (lifting-thrusting or twirling), needling amplitude, velocity, and stimulation time. At present, most studies focus on acupoint combination and mechanism of MA, the relationship between stimulation parameters and their therapeutic effects, as well as the influence on mechanism of action are relatively scattered, and lack of systematic summary and analysis. This paper reviewed the three types of stimulation parameters of MA, their common options and values, corresponding effects and potential mechanisms of action. The purpose of such efforts is to provide a useful reference for the dose-effect relationship of MA and the quantification and standardization of its clinical treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders to further promote the application of acupuncture in the world.

Licorice is an important specialty crop that links agricultural production, processing and trade, and rural livelihoods in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. Using UN Comtrade data for HS 130212 from 1990 to 2024, this study evaluates the international Trade Competitiveness of China’s licorice exports and identifies the sources of export growth. A multi-indicator static framework is constructed, combining International Market Share (IMS), the Trade Competitiveness Index (TC), the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage index (RSCA) and the Revealed Competitive Advantage index (CA). The results show that China maintains a relatively large and stable global market share and a persistent net export position, but its comparative and net Competitive Advantages are weaker than those of high-end suppliers such as France and Israel, revealing a pattern of “large scale but weak competitiveness”. To capture dynamic drivers, an extended Constant Market Share (CMS) model is applied to decompose China’s licorice exports into world demand, structural and competitiveness effects. The decomposition indicates that export growth has gradually shifted from being mainly driven by global demand expansion to relying more on improvements in product competitiveness and market reconfiguration, particularly in emerging markets. These findings suggest that upgrading product quality and processing, strengthening standards and branding, and promoting more inclusive value-chain development are essential for transforming China’s licorice exports from scale expansion to high-quality growth and for enhancing rural incomes in producing regions.

Morchella (morel) includes prized edible and medical mushrooms in the world. Since 2012, commercial cultivation of morels in the field has developed rapidly in China. However, coupled with the rapid expansion of morel cultivation, diseases have been become serious threats to morel production. White mold is one of the most serious diseases on cultivated morels. This study aimed to confirm this pathogen by following Koch's postulates, and to identify it using molecular evidence. Our results indicated that healthy Morchella fruiting bodies inoculated with Paecilomyces sp. isolates produced typical white mold symptoms, and the internal transcribed spacer sequences of the Paecilomyces sp. were 99% similar to that recovered from an epitype of Paecilomyces penicillatus. Therefore, P. penicillatus was considered to be the causative agent of white mold. White mold occurred from the initial harvest to the storage and preservation process, and it produced white mold-like symptoms on the caps and stripes of Morchella. This is the first time that white mold has been reported on cultivated Morchella.

Background The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α) are often used in fungal taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis. As we know, an ideal molecular marker used in molecular identification and phylogenetic studies is homogeneous within species, and interspecific variation exceeds intraspecific variation. However, during our process of performing ITS, RPB2, and EF1α sequencing on the Pleurotus spp., we found that intra-isolate sequence polymorphism might be present in these genes because direct sequencing of PCR products failed in some isolates. Therefore, we detected intra- and inter-isolate variation of the three genes in Pleurotus by polymerase chain reaction amplification and cloning in this study. Results Results showed that intra-isolate variation of ITS was not uncommon but the polymorphic level in each isolate was relatively low in Pleurotus ; intra-isolate variations of EF1α and RPB2 sequences were present in an unexpectedly high amount. The polymorphism level differed significantly between ITS, RPB2, and EF1α in the same individual, and the intra-isolate heterogeneity level of each gene varied between isolates within the same species. Intra-isolate and intraspecific variation of ITS in the tested isolates was less than interspecific variation, and intra-isolate and intraspecific variation of RPB2 was probably equal with interspecific divergence. Meanwhile, intra-isolate and intraspecific variation of EF1α could exceed interspecific divergence. These findings suggested that RPB2 and EF1α are not desirable barcoding candidates for Pleurotus . We also discussed the reason why rDNA and protein-coding genes showed variants within a single isolate in Pleurotus , but must be addressed in further research. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that intra-isolate variation of ribosomal and protein-coding genes are likely widespread in fungi. This has implications for studies on fungal evolution, taxonomy, phylogenetics, and population genetics. More extensive sampling of these genes and other candidates will be required to ensure reliability as phylogenetic markers and DNA barcodes.

Group A streptococcal severe soft tissue infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis, are rapidly progressive infections associated with high mortality. Group A streptococcus is typically considered an extracellular pathogen, but has been shown to reside intracellularly in host cells. We characterized in vivo interactions between group A streptococci (GAS) and cells involved in innate immune responses, using human biopsies (n = 70) collected from 17 patients with soft tissue infections. Immunostaining and in situ image analysis revealed high amounts of bacteria in the biopsies, even in those collected after prolonged antibiotic therapy. Viability of the streptococci was assessed by use of a bacterial viability stain, which demonstrated viable bacteria in 74% of the biopsies. GAS were present both extracellularly and intracellularly within phagocytic cells, primarily within macrophages. Intracellular GAS were predominantly noted in biopsies from newly involved tissue characterized by lower inflammation and bacterial load, whereas purely extracellular GAS or a combination of intra- and extracellular GAS dominated in severely inflamed tissue. The latter tissue was also associated with a significantly increased amount of the cysteine protease streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin SpeB. In vitro studies confirmed that macrophages serve as reservoirs for viable GAS, and infection with a speB-deletion mutant produced significantly lower frequencies of cells with viable GAS following infection as compared to the wild-type bacteria. This is the first study to demonstrate that GAS survive intracellularly in macrophages during acute invasive infections. This intracellular presence may have evolved as a mechanism to avoid antibiotic eradication, which may explain our finding that high bacterial load is present even in tissue collected after prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy. This new insight into the pathogenesis of streptococcal soft tissue infections highlights a need for alternative therapeutic strategies.

A new feather-degrading bacterium was isolated from a local feather waste site and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological, physiochemical, and phylogenetic characteristics. Screening for mutants with elevated keratinolytic activity using N-methyl-N＇-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis resulted in a mutant strain KD-N2 producing keratinolytic activity about 2.5 times that of the wild-type strain. The mutant strain produced inducible keratinase in different substrates of feathers, hair, wool and silk under submerged cultivation. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed the degradation of feathers, hair and silk by the keratinase. The optimal conditions for keratinase production include initial pH of 7.5, inoculum size of 2% （v/v）, age of inoculum of 16 h, and cultivation at 23 ℃. The maximum keratinolytic activity of KD-N2 was achieved after 30 h. Essential amino acids like threonine, valine, methionine as well as ammonia were produced when feathers were used as substrates. Strain KD-N2, therefore, shows great promise of finding potential applications in keratin hydrolysis and keratinase production.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of community and hospital-acquired infections. Moreover, the clinical impact of S. aureus is on the rise because of the global increase in the incidence of multidrug-resistant strains and its growing prevalence as a major cause of surgical infections. As a result, there is a pressing need to identify new antistaphylococcal agents and preventative strategies that will help in the management of these types of infections. This report describes the successful use of a probiotic, Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14, and its secreted biosurfactant to inhibit surgical implant infections caused by S. aureus. L. fermentum RC-14 and its secreted biosurfactant both significantly inhibited S. aureus infection and bacteria adherence to surgical implants.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a key metabolite of sphingolipids, plays crucial roles in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. S1P primarily exerts its functions by binding to G protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs), which comprise five subtypes (S1PR1-5) in humans, thereby activating these receptors and their downstream signaling pathways. Understanding the molecular determinants that govern agonist selectivity among different S1PR subtypes is vital for the rational and precise development of targeted therapeutic agents. Here, four cryo-electron microscopy structures of agonist-bound S1PR1-Gi1 complexes are reported. Through an integrated approach combining structural analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and pharmacological assays, the molecular basis for the selectivity of CYM5442, HY-X-1011, Ponesimod, and SAR247799 toward S1PR1 over S1PR2-S1PR5 is uncovered. Nonconserved residues within the ligand-binding pocket and at the Gi1-protein interface contribute to S1PR1 selectivity by these agonists. A distinct agonist binding orientation toward transmembrane helices 5-7, combined with branched substituents that increase the agonist’s molecular width, results in steric clashes with residues in S1PR3. Additionally, branched moieties located at the tail portions of the agonist restrict its deep insertion into the binding pocket of both S1PR3 and S1PR5. These structural features collectively enhance its selectivity for S1PR1 over S1PR3 and S1PR5. Furthermore, polar interactions with conserved polar residues in the top region of the binding pocket also influence agonist selectivity. Besides, the relatively broad molecular width of the agonist sterically hinders its binding into S1PR2 and S1PR4 pocket by nonconserved residue pairs bearing bulky side chains. These findings establish a structural framework for the rational design of next-generation S1PR1 highly selective agonists with improved therapeutic potential.

Entoloma subgenus Claudopus is widely distributed, yet the taxonomy and systematics of its species are still poorly documented. In the present study, more than forty collections of Claudopus were gathered in China and subsequently analysed, based on morphological and molecular data. The results revealed first a high level of species diversity of Claudopus in China and second, there is a wide ecological range regarding the substrates and the habitats ranging from temperate, tropical to subalpine locations. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, five novel species from China are proposed, viz. E. conchatum , E. flabellatum , E. gregarium , E. pleurotoides and E. reductum . Molecular phylogeny of Entoloma s.l. was also reconstructed, based on 187 representatives of Entoloma s.l. by employing the combined ITS, LSU, mtSSU and RPB2 sequences. Ten monophyletic clades ( Claudopus , Leptonia , Nolanea , Cuboid-spored Inocephalus , “ Alboleptonia ”, Cyanula , Pouzarella , Rhodopolia , Prunuloides and Rusticoides ) were recovered, while 13 taxa could not be placed in any defined clades. The results confirmed that Claudopus in a traditional morphological sense is not monophyletic and the Rusticoides -group, previously considered within Claudopus , formed a separate clade; but section Claudopus and relatives of E. undatum belong to a distinctive monophyletic group. Despite some monophyletic groups in Entoloma s.l. being distinctive in both morphology and molecular phylogeny, they were still treated as subgenera of Entoloma s.l. temporarily, because accepting them as genera will make Entoloma s.l. paraphyletic.